Not like The Shins need a gushing, love-letter-of-a-review by little, ol’ me, but HOLY SHIT! I have to…

I’ve been entering KPRi‘s Private Listener Concert contests for months (maybe years). When I saw their latest was for The Shins and it was the week of my birthday I did what every wishful-thinking birthday bitch would do: I crossed my fingers and entered. I instructed my dear mother to do the same (with something along the lines of “now bitch!”) The crazy thing? We both freakin’ won. So with our “plus ones” in tow (my dad and my aunt), last night we headed downtown to the intimate jazz bar Croce’s- a restaurant opened as a tribute to the late Jim Croce and run by his wife, Ingrid Croce.

After pre-drinks at The Tipsy Crow, standing outside with other amped up fans, and waiting super impatiently, KPRi DJ Chris Cantore (love him!) gave a quick introduction and it was on. For as excited as I was to hear/see James Mercer live, the man completely and utterly exceeded all expectations. Flawless vocals, impeccable acoustic renditions of his songs, and it was over far, far too soon.

UPDATE: Footage here! Good shit from @SD_Centric.

Only a five song set! This was the only disappointment. I wanted the show to go on forever and within a half hour it was over. *sigh* But I can’t complain too much- being amongst the small crowd that got to witness some of the first performances of new Shins music plus some old favorites. My birthday week is off to a bitchen start…. and there’s more to come.

Sounds to Sample by The Shins:

Caring is Creepy (of Garden State soundtrack fame)

New Slang

Simple Song

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